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Well, I finally got my mitts on a copy of “Frost/Nixon: The Original Watergate Interview”… this is the actual interview, not the dramatic film about doing the interviews (which I want to see).
While Frost seems, at times, to be a little sloshed, as does Nixon, Frost seems to be an unapologetic and nearly relentless interrogator. Frost seem to try to respect the formal deference Nixon is due as a formal national leader, but doesn’t seem to let that get in the way of trying to get real answers from the man.
Nixon, for his part, worked as a skilled defense attorney to deflect blame and call evidence into question… to raise doubt in the prosecution, rather than to demonstrate his own innocence.
There are times when Nixon claims to be the person most knowledgeable of the discussions on-tape, because he was there, but when the “18-and-a-half minute gap” is brought up, Nixon breezily defers to Haldeman’s notes. (hits Staples button) “That was easy!” Frost lets it go. That’s a little disappointing.
All in all, tho, David Frost holds Nixon’s feet to the fire, and compels answers as much as he can, considering that Nixon voluntarily agreed to be interviewed, and was under no obligation (other than contractual) to participate.
It is sad that the US legislature and press could not confront Nixon even this seriously.
Of course Nixon’s dead, as are most of the people involved in his administration, as are most of the people in the senate, the house or the judiciary, who could have done anything about the corruption of the Nixon administration. Except from a historical perspective, it is largely a moot point. This interview does show, tho, that the veracity of the US press, the Legislature and the Judiciary, in protecting the American people from corruption in the Executive is wanting; then as now.
As much as anything can be a viewed as a triumph in this matter, I think this interview is it.
I’m looking forward to seeing the Ron Howard dramatic film about this episode of history.
